Thursday, August 23, 2018

Thrilling time with the family at Long Point Eco Adventures in Norfolk County

We had a memorable time testing our physical and mental boundaries as we did adventurous activities in Norfolk county located in Ontario's South Coast. Our stay at Long Point Eco Adventures was full of energy and excitement as we anticipated and participated in activities we haven't done before.

It is a great place to have unique outdoor experiences - from Zip-lining, Stargazing, Apiary tours, Kayaking, Axe-throwing, and more. We can also stay over in their Wilderness Suites, which is perfect for families or in their Camping Pods, so there is more time to do everything they offer.

Long Point Eco Adventures is a spacious facility to relax, surround ourselves in nature, and truly appreciate adventures - some of which will totally take us out of our comfort levels. We think it would be perfect fit for families with children over 8 years. Teenagers will love it, and people who don't feel they are adventurous will get a chance to have those experiences! Currently, Long Point Eco Adventures is open from Spring to Fall (May to October).

To be part of the different activities book ahead of time,
as there are limited number of people per group, and different times the activities
are held at. Arrive a little early to sign the waiver when you do your first
activity, once you sign one waiver during the stay you can participate in the
different activities they provide. There is staff on site 24 hours, and they are
helpful with directions, local area advice, and reservations.

Activities we did while at Long Point Eco AdventuresAxe throwing

We got a glimpse of axe throwing this summer while we were staying at Fern Resort. Axe throwing has become a popular activity over the last few
years, and we finally got a chance to spend a lot of time practicing and
perfecting our axe throwing skills.

Once you get the hang of this activity, it
becomes addictive especially when we start scoring. We found our guide to be
very helpful in giving tips on how to handle the axe and throwing strategies to
make it easy to target and get points.

Hiking the trails

There are plenty of walking and riding trails located in and around Long Point Eco Adventures that include public and private properties, which are part of a network we are welcome to use. We explored some of the Vineyard trails that starts through the grassland and goes to the apiary tour demonstration area, then across the road to the woods behind the beautiful vineyards at Burning Kiln Winery.

This trail also crosses over to the St. Williams Conservation Reserve forest where we can see a variety of Carolinian species. This reserve's objective is to restore rare and sensitive ecosystems such as oak savanna and prairie communities.

Check in with the staff at Long Point Eco Adventures and get a detailed trail map before hiking. If you enjoy biking, they have mountain bikes you can rent
or bring your own and enjoy the trails.

Zip Line and Canopy Tour through the Carolinian Forest

This is an activity that will literally make us take a leap
of faith. We loved how professional and enthusiastic the guides were, and we
felt they knew what they are doing so it was easy to put our trust in them to
keep us safe and have fun. Both the guides were superb as they totally made everyone in the group feel comfortable. Even those of us who were quite nervous to try zip-lining at the beginning, felt the exhilarating excitement of zipping through the trees and got comfortable as we zipped along.

We love that there are many zip-lines because when we do each one we get a little more comfortable and want to do more, so this two and half hour tour gives us a chance to fully get into the experience and really enjoy it. Our children were super excited as they completed each zip-line, and wanted to know when we will do this again. The guides were patient, always made sure everything was safe, and made everyone in the group feel we are part of a team and can do this. They take pictures during the experience and email it to us, so we can share it with family and friends.

It is a great place to experience the adventure of zip-lining. At Long Point Eco Adventures, we can glide through 8 zip-lines, 2 suspension bridges, and a 40 foot rappel. These tours opened in 2009, and they take a maximum of eight people in each group, and offer tours multiple times daily. At the end of this experience, we felt a sense of satisfaction and simply loved it. Check their site for the details on the weight restrictions, and if you have medical conditions. They have nighttime Zip Line and Canopy Tours on Friday and Saturday nights.

Apiary tour, unique experience of taking a close look at the
bees.

We love learning about bees and find them fascinating. Over the years, we created our garden to attract more bees and butterflies by adding a variety of native plants, flowers, and trees. We also added bee hotels that attract different types of bees.

By participating in the Apiary tour at Long Point Eco Adventures offered by Vanessa's Bees we got to see bees in a
different perspective. Having a calm positive energy will help us get really
close to the bees and observe them. We learned about honey bees, how they work
as a group, how the bee hives are kept and maintained, and how farmers extract the
honey and wax.

It was exciting for us to gear up in bee suites and take a closer look at the bee hives, and hold the frame with bees busy at work. We saw
the queen bee laying eggs, how the queen eggs are especially cared for, the
jobs of drone bees, what the female worker and nursing bees are doing, how they
clean up their homes and get rid of invaders and dead bees. Vanessa is very knowledgeable and answered all the questions we had about these amazing pollinators.

After exploring the bee hives in the apiary area, we walked
to the honey hut and made our own candles with melted bees wax. We enjoyed
taking the time to decorate the glass jars, adding scents, and the melted wax.

As the wax settled, we spent time tasting different types of
honey, learning about honey in the local area, how different flowers affect the
taste, and the health benefits of honey.

It was our first time tasting pollen that was collected by bees. Each of our taste buds gave us a different feel, we felt like it was bitter, slightly sweet and powdery, and similar to cookie or dough crumbs. Bee pollen is supposed to have lots of health benefits such as improving our immune system and reducing brain fatigue.

At the end of the tour we were able to purchase jars of honey that were harvested from the bees we
met at the hives. We think this is a unique experience for family, and it is a must experience to really appreciate nature, and to learn how we can be part of saving the bees - an important pollinator for our own
survival.

Observatory Stargazing tours

Long Point Eco Adventures is located in one of the darkest points in Southern Ontario, so we were able to look up at the sky
and see it lit up with an array of constellations. We also saw three planets, Mercury, Mars, and Saturn without binoculars. During
the 2 hour guided tour, we heard stories from Greek mythology associated with the stars.

It was our first time looking through the powerful 16 inch telescope
and taking a closer look at different objects in the sky such as M13 and M37. This was totally exciting, as the guide was patient and wanted everyone to take their time and see the objects. We were totally fascinated looking at these objects that are hard for us humans to fathom. This
astronomical experience opened in 2010, they offer tours on select Tuesdays and
Sundays, and on every Friday and Saturday.

Just outside of Long Point Eco Adventures

Turkey Point Provincial Park – trails, beach, and the only
provincial park with a golf course which used to be a naval base. It is about
five minutes driving distance from Long Point Eco Adventures.

Long Point Provincial Park is 45 minutes from Long Point Eco
Adventures. It has a beautiful beach area with picnic benches and washrooms close by. There are strong waves, and no lifeguards, so keep children
close and enjoy the sandy beach.

We love how these different and unique family friendly activities connected us to each other and nature, and it is a wonderful way to make lasting memories. The activities are geared for children eight years and over, and you don't have to be an "outdoor" person to test your limits and experience these awesome activities that break personal barriers. It is a fabulous place not only for families and couples, but also for corporate groups and school tours.

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